The Weekly Wrap: Dec. 5 - Dec. 11

Hendo, Lashley to Strikeforce

Strikeforce announced two of the most significant signings in its history this week, inking grizzled UFC headliner Dan Henderson and former pro wrestling star Bobby Lashley.

Henderson, 39, signed a four-fight deal with the promotion, expecting to fight first on an April CBS card with one or two of the fights to take place on pay-per-view. Henderson and Strikeforce were to decide which weight class the fight would take place at after the holidays. Henderson told Sherdog.com he’s interested in facing Jake Shields at middleweight, Gegard Mousasi at light heavyweight and Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight.

Henderson cited the UFC’s decision-making on the middleweight title picture as a contributing reason for his departure. Following his emphatic win over Michael Bisping in July, Henderson was expecting a title shot against Anderson Silva that eventually was granted to Vitor Belfort, whom Henderson defeated in 2006. Sherdog.com reported Henderson was as recently as last week offered a fight against Nate Marquardt for UFC 109 on Feb. 6.

The undefeated Lashley signed a multi-year agreement and will debut on Strikeforce’s Jan. 30 Showtime event in Miami. Lashley, who participated in a featured match in the biggest pay-per-view in World Wrestling Entertainment history, is expected to remain active in the Spike TV-broadcasted TNA Wrestling promotion, which had agreed to promote his fights on air. The dynamic creates an interesting conflict with Spike TV and its indelible link with the UFC.

Lashley’s opponent has yet to be announced.